Dual compensating stabilizer

Abstract

A stabilizing system for use with a vehicle suspension which employs a first and second strap or other flexible tension member associated with and extending between opposite control arm assemblies of the suspension. A first end of each strap is anchored to a corresponding control arm assembly. A second end, distal the first end, of each strap is anchored to the control arm assembly distal the first end. Each strap, alternately, weaves over and under at least two guides associated with and positioned between the path of the straps. The guides and/or bushings associated with the anchor points may be formed of a yieldable material to provide a yieldable biasing action on the straps. An adjustment assembly is associated with each strap to preload the associated strap to a desired tension. The stabilizing system occupies space between the control arm assemblies and is very lightweight due to the thin belt-like characteristics of the straps. The stabilizing system of the present invention functions to transfer forces imposed on one control assembly to the opposite control arm assembly by alternately placing an associated strap in tension or allowing the other strap to go slack. The flexible tension members or straps are preferably connected to the control arms at locations tending to minimize the effect of single wheel impact loads.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A stabilizing system for use with a vehicle suspension, said suspension having first and second oppositely positioned control arm assemblies, said stabilizing system comprising: first and second anchor means operatively associated with said each of said first and second oppositely positioned control arm assemblies;   first and second means for tensionably linking said opposed control arm assemblies, said first linking means operatively connected to and extending between said first anchor on said first control arm assembly and said second anchor means on said second control arm assembly, said second linking means operatively connected to and extending between said second anchor means on said first control arm assembly and said first anchor means on said second control arm assembly, said first and second linking means transferring a force imposed on one of said control arm assemblies to the other of said control arm assemblies; and   first and second means for guiding said linking means between said first and second control arm assemblies, each of said guides being positioned above or below said first and second anchor means, each of said linking means, alternately, weaved over said first guide means and under said second guide means.   
     
     
       2. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second anchor means includes a bushing formed of a yieldable material, said linking means defining a strap being wrapped around an outside surface of a corresponding bushing, said bushings having a degree of compressibility for dampening forces transferred thereto by said first and second linking means. 
     
     
       3. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second guide means are formed of a yieldable material, said first and second guide means having a degree of compressibility for dampening forces transferred thereto by said first and second linking means. 
     
     
       4. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an adjustment assembly operatively associated with each of said first and second linking means for controllably tensioning said associated linking means. 
     
     
       5. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second linking means are a flexible elongated strap, a pair of straps operatively associated with and extending between said control arm assemblies, a first end of each of said straps operatively associated with a corresponding one of said control arm assemblies, a second end of each of said straps operatively associated with a corresponding oppositely positioned control arm assembly, said straps following mirror image courses between said oppositely positioned control arm assemblies. 
     
     
       6. A stabilizing system for a vehicle wheel suspension including first and second oppositely positioned control arm assemblies, said stabilizing system comprising: first and second anchor means operatively associated with said first and second control arm assemblies;   first and second guide means operatively positioned between said first and second anchor means;   a first flexible tension member having opposite ends respectively operatively associated with said second anchor means associated with said first control arm assembly and said first anchor means associated with said second control arm assembly;   a second flexible tension member having opposite ends respectively operatively associated with said first anchor means associated with said first control arm assembly and said second anchor means associated with said second control arm assembly;   said first flexible tension member extending from said second anchor means associated with said first control arm assembly upwardly over said first guide means, then downwardly beneath said second guide means and then upwardly to said first anchor means associated with said second control arm assembly;   said second flexible tension member extending downwardly from said first anchor means associated with said first control arm assembly, beneath said first guide means, then upwardly over said second guide means and then downwardly to said second anchor means associated with said second control arm assembly;   rolling of the vehicle in a first direction causing tensioning of the first flexible tension member, downward pressure on said first guide means and upward pressure on said second guide means for resisting such vehicle rolling, and rolling of the vehicle in an opposite direction causing tensioning of said second flexible member, downward pressure on said second guide means and upward pressure on said first guide means for resisting said first member rolling.   
     
     
       7. A stabilizing system for a vehicle wheel suspension including first and second bifurcated control arms operatively associated with opposite ends of a cross member, each of said bifurcated control arms having two spaced apart branches disposed on an inboard end being pivotally associated with said cross member and an outboard end operatively associated with a steering knuckle assembly, a pivot shaft connecting said spaced apart branches of each of said first and second control arms to a corresponding end of said cross member, said stabilizing system comprising: first and second anchor means attached to said first and second control arms between said spaced apart branches;   first and second guide means operatively associated with said pivot shaft and positioned generally between said spaced apart branches spaced inboardly from said corresponding first and second anchor means;   a first flexible tension member having opposite ends respectively operatively associated with said second anchor means associated with said first bifurcated control arm and said first anchor means associated with said second bifurcated control arm;   a second flexible tension member having opposite ends respectively operatively associated with said first anchor means associated with said first bifurcated control arm and said second anchor means associated with said second bifurcated control arm;   said first flexible tension member extending from said second anchor means associated with said first bifurcated control arm upwardly over said first guide means, then downwardly beneath said second guide means and then upwardly to said first anchor means associated with said second bifurcated control arm;   second flexible tension member extending downwardly from said first anchor means associated with said first bifurcated control arm, beneath said first guide means, then upwardly over said second guide means and then downwardly to said second anchor means associated with said second bifurcated control arm;   rolling of the vehicle in a first direction causing tensioning of the first flexible tension member, downward pressure on said first guide means and upward pressure on said second guide means for resisting such vehicle rolling, and rolling of the vehicle in an opposite direction causing tensioning of said second flexible tension member, downward pressure on said second guide means and upward pressure on said first guide means for resisting said first member rolling.   
     
     
       8. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said first and second anchor means includes a bushing formed of a yieldable material, said first and second flexible tension members being wrapped around an outside surface of a corresponding bushing, said bushings having a degree of compressibility for dampening forces transferred thereto by said first and second flexible tension members. 
     
     
       9. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 7, wherein said first and second guide means are formed of a yieldable material, said first and second guide means having a degree of compressibility for dampening forces transferred thereto by said first and second flexible tension members. 
     
     
       10. A stabilizing system as recited in claim 7, further comprising an adjustment assembly operatively associated with each of said first and second flexible tension members for controllably tensioning said associated flexible tension members.